Water Notice
28 MARCH, 3.20PM UPDATE People affected by the recent water issues in Pukehina Beach, Paengaroa, Maketu, Little Waihi and Pongakawa will be reimbursed through their next water account with a $5 discount.
The discount is to compensate customers who took Council's advice to flush their systems before using.
Council is also offering to compensate anyone who incurred medical costs linked to the high pH levels in the water on receipt of a medical certificate. These people should contact Council on 07 571 8008 to discuss with a Customer Service representative.
Council Utilities Manager Kelvin Hill says flushing of the eastern area water system is complete and pH levels have returned to normal, including for Arawa, Kaikokopu and Tainui roads in Pongakawa that required some additional flushing yesterday. He advises continued caution over the next 24 hours.
"Keep testing the water before use by rubbing fingers together in the running water and if it's slimy to the touch, flush until it clears."
Background information:
Council estimates the costs to customers who ran taps for 10 minutes and emptied their hot water cylinders at less than $3 based on the following formula.
Running water for 10mins = approximately 40 litres a minute
40 litres x 10minutes = approximately 400 litres
Emptying an average hot water cylinder = another 180 litres
580 litres of water in total = 65c
Add in power costs to heat the water tank water up again 4kw/hrs @ $.50c = $2.00
Total cost (in this example) $2.65c
Kelvin says although the monetary cost to households was relatively low the inconvenience factor was high, and Council apologises to all those affected by the water issues.
A report on how and why the warning system at the water treatment plant in Pongakawa failed last week is expected in the next couple of days.
27 MARCH, 11.50AM UPDATE Water issues almost resolved. The all-clear has been given for water in the eastern part of the Western Bay District apart from three roads close to the Pongakawa water treatment plant, but residents are still advised to test water before drinking or bathing as a precaution.
Council is aware that a small number of people reported issues this morning, so is repeating the message to residents in Pukehina Beach, Paengaroa, Maketu, Little Waihi and Pongakawa to test water by rubbing fingers together in the running water.
If the water feels slimy to the touch, then keep flushing until it clears. Water cylinders should be flushed completely and households with header tanks are advised to do the same. People in these areas may also be experiencing low water pressure due to the system-wide flushing that has been taking place.
Council Utilities Manager Kelvin Hill said flushing of the eastern area water system has been completed and testing of pH levels shows they have returned to normal apart from Arawa, Kaikokopu and Tainui roads in Pongakawa that require some additional flushing.
This is taking place now and is expected to be completed by mid-afternoon. Residents on these roads are being visited today by water contractors to notify them of the work and to advise them to flush their systems when the work is complete.
Investigations are continuing into why the warning system at the water treatment plant in Pongakawa failed last week. The treatment plant is being managed manually in the meantime.
Council apologises to people affected by the water issues.
24 MARCH, 5.20PM UPDATE Extensive flushing of the system that supplies water to the eastern part of the Western Bay District has taken place and pH levels are returning to normal.
Residents are advised to flush their system before drinking or bathing.
This means running taps for ten minutes to ensure the fresh water supply is coming through the system.
Once this has been done people are advised to rub their fingers together in the running water and if it feels slimy to the touch, then keep flushing. Water cylinders should be flushed completely and households with header tanks are advised to do the same.
Council apologises to people affected by today's water issues in Pukehina Beach, Paengaroa, Maketu, Little Waihi and Pongakawa. People in these areas may experience low water pressure through to mid-evening due to the system-wide flushing.
Investigations are continuing into why the warning system at the water treatment plant in Pongakawa failed overnight. The treatment plant is being managed manually in the meantime.
Council is asking residents to help spread the word on flushing out water systems and advises that Council can be contacted on 07-5718008 throughout the weekend if households experience ongoing water issues.
24 MARCH, 3PM UPDATE The Pukehina Beach water supply is back to neutral pH, but residents should flush their system before drinking or bathing.
Council water supply technicians have completed flushing the Pukehina Beach water supply system which showed a high level of pH this morning.
Pukehina residents should run water taps for ten minutes to ensure the fresh water supply is coming through the system.
Council Utilities Manager Kelvin Hill says once this has been done people are advised to rub their fingers together in the running water and if it feels slimy to the touch, then keep flushing. Water cylinders should be flushed completely and households with header tanks are advised to do the same.
Flushing is taking place in other potentially affected areas of the District - Paengaroa, Maketu, Little Waihi and Pongakawa - and the all-clear is expected to be given by the end of the day. A number of businesses, schools and organisations have already been given clearance. People in these areas should continue not to drink the water or bathe in it until further notice.
Council will be using signage to inform residents of the need to flush their water systems, but asks residents to assist spreading the word by informing their neighbours of the situation, especially those coming to the beach from out of town.
Council has been supplying residents with water today. Kelvin says it's a timely reminder for people to keep an emergency supply of fresh drinking water as part of their household emergency plan.
24 MARCH, 12.10PM UPDATE High pH has been identified as the issue affecting water in eastern areas of the District today.
Early testing suggests that the water supplied to Pukehina Beach, Paengaroa, Maketu, Little Waihi and Pongakawa areas this morning had high pH and therefore the water was overly alkaline. Neutral pH is 7 and testing today showed the water may have had a pH of 9-10.
This could be an issue for people with sensitive skin causing irritation and the water should not be drunk, but it is not thought to be unsafe.
When something like this happens at the water treatment plant the system should automatically shut down until it has been corrected, but this did not occur overnight and Council is investigating what caused this failure. Council was advised of a potential issue with the water supply at approximately 7.30am today.
Council staff are now manually operating the water treatment plant at Pongakawa and the Maketu Reservoir has temporarily been isolated.
Parts of the water supply area are being flushed to restore the correct pH balance and this may take a few hours to achieve.
Residents in the potentially affected areas are advised to not drink or bathe in the water until the all-clear is given. Once this occurs people should flush their own systems by running water taps for ten minutes to clear. Water cylinders should be flushed completely and households with header tanks are advised to do the same.
Council Utilities Manager Kelvin Hill says once this has been done people should rub their fingers together in the running water and if it feels slimy to the touch, then keep flushing.
The issue is similar to having an imbalance in your spa or swimming pool water, he says.
At this stage we believe the effects of taking a shower in this water for people with sensitive skin would be no more than potential irritation and possibly a rash, but we'd advise anyone with concerns to seek medical advice.
Council will continue to provide updates on the flushing process throughout the day and advise when the system has been restored. Local schools and the Medical Officer of Health have been notified.
Water is being made available from water tankers and bottled water in the potentially affected areas.
24 MARCH, 10.30AM UPDATE The do not drink the water' notice is now advised for residents in Pukehina Beach, Paengaroa, Maketu, Little Waihi and Pongakawa areas as the cause of this morning's issue continues to be investigated.
The system that supplies water to these areas is going to be flushed and in the meantime residents are being asked not to drink or bathe in the water as a precaution. This flushing process may take 4-6 hours to complete and residents will be advised when this has occurred.
Water tankers and bottled water will be delivered to all the potentially affected areas while the flushing takes place.
24 MARCH, 9AM Pukehina Beach residents are being advised to flush their water systems after reports of potential issues with water quality today.
Two complaints have been received by Council about the water this morning, including a woman who reported coming out in a rash after taking a shower.
Council staff are testing the water to see what the issue might be and how widespread it is.
In the meantime, Council advises residents to flush their systems if possible - especially those with holding tanks - and to avoid drinking tap water until the test results come in.
Council is organising a water tanker and bottled water to be delivered to Pukehina Beach while the situation is being investigated.
